In preparing the public for a disaster, officials want to make the right call, but they also want to avoid blame. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
Hurricane Irene Hits East Coast
Hurricane Irene pounded coastal regions of the east coast.In Pompton Lakes, N.J., earlier this week, Gino Borova stood in the driveway of his house — which was flooded by water from the Ramapo River. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption
Steve Inskeep and Adam Davidson on Irene's economic effects
Sallee Tee's restaurant in Monmouth Beach, N.J., was flooded following Hurricane Irene. Courtesy of Andrew West hide caption
A section of Highway 12 in Hatteras Island, N.C., was flooded when Hurricane Irene tore through the area on Saturday. The storm cut off the roadway in five locations. Steve Helber/AP hide caption
Jarrid Gonyea and his wife, Michelle, check out damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene on Hurricane Road in Keene, N.Y., on Monday. The costs of the storm that stretched across the Eastern Seaboard are estimated to be in the billions. Hans Pennink/AP hide caption
On Saturday, President Obama and FEMA administrator Craig Fugate attended a video teleconference led by FEMA as Irene made its way up the Eastern Seaboard. Pool/Getty Images hide caption
A man rests at the Trenton, N.J., train station on Monday, where some commuters were caught off guard when they found there were no trains. Damage from Hurricane Irene forced New Jersey Transit to suspend rail service. Mel Evans/AP hide caption
Irene destroyed much of the two-mile boardwalk in Spring Lake, N.J. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption
A surfer in Long Beach, N.Y., passes heavy machinery Monday that was removing the remnants of a lifeguard shack that was knocked off its footing during Irene. Craig Ruttle/AP hide caption